Continuous carbon-on-catalyst analyzer



J ly 56 s. E. SHIELDS ET AL 2,75

CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYZER Filed June 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O 0) m? I q I TEMP.

CONTROL Sfaniey E. Shields Philip W. Dewey William A. Shire, Jr.

ATTORNEY gdldaNv s 9 1 INVENTORS:

y 3, 1956 s. E. SHIELDS ET AL 2,753,246

CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1951 Filed INVENTORS: Sfan/ey E. Shields Philip W. Dewey ATTORNEY y 3, 1955 s. E. SHIELDS ET AL 2,753,246

CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 50, 1951 FIG. 8

INVENTORS Sfanley E. Shields Philip W. Dewey BY William A. Shire, Jr.

FIG. 4

ATTORNEY y 3, 1956 s. E. SHIELDS ET AL 2,753,246

CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYZER Filed June 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TEMP.

CONTROL VIBRATOR INVENTORS Sianley E. Shields Philip W. Dewey William A. Shine /r.

ATTORNEY United States Patent CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYZER Stanley E. Shields, Whiting, and Philip W. Dewey and William A. Shire, .lr., Munster, Ind., assignors to kStandard Oil Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of ndiana Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,638

13 Claims. (Cl. 23-230) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for continuous sampling of flowing granular materials. It has particular reference to a method and apparatus for measuring continuously the carbon concentration on circulating fluid solid catalysts.

In a number of hydrocarbon conversion processes employing finely divided solid catalysts, there is a deposition of carbon or carbonaceous coatings. In regenerating such catalyst material, it is desired to control the regeneration operation in terms of the proportion of carbon on the catalyst. Ordinarily such regeneration may be effected by burning the deposits from the contact ma terial by means of an oxygen-containing gas. To have an efficient regeneration, it is essential that the rate of burning and proportion of oxygen be controlled. Likewise the deposition of carbonaceous deposits on finely divided contacting materials during a reaction or conversion is indicative of the reaction condition. These conditions may be altered from time to time in accordance with the extent of carbonaceous deposit.

As is well known, the carbon on catalyst can be determined by withdrawing a batch sample from a catalyst mass and thereafter measuring the proportion of carbon. This may be done by conventional test procedures involving the burning of the carbonaceous deposit from the solids and analyzing the combustion gases for CO2. In the usual case where random samples are drawn by operators that are delivered to a technical service laboratory and there measured, the total elapsed time from the drawing of the sample to the reporting back by the laboratory may be several hours. Obviously where large quantities of catalyst materials are being handled, the difference between the control based on information on a continuous sample and that based on information which is several hours late and on random samples is satisfactory neither from the reliability of the test nor the sensitivity of the control operation.

Batch random sampling provides only sufficient data to indicate that an accurately controlled and continuous sampling system would be very useful. Accordingly, a specific object of this invention is to provide a continuous operating system which will give reasonably accurate carbonon-catalyst readings and which is comparatively simple in the method of operation as Well as in the elements of construction. A further object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic system for continuously sampling catalyst from a standpipe and giving a prompt analysis so as to permit process control. A more specific object is to provide a sampling device for the withdrawal of a uniform increment of finely divided solids from a flowing mass of such solids. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the more detailed description thereof proceeds.

Briefly the operation of our analyzer i based on the withdrawal of a catalyst sample continuously, precisely metering a portion of the withdrawn sample, removing carbon from the metered sample by combustion, and measuring the carbon dioxide derived from such combus- 2,753,246 Patented July 3, 1956 tion. All of these operations are performed in a continuous and automatic manner. The combustion technique of determining the carbon on the metered sample of catalyst has been adopted since it affords data of a more precise and reliable quality than is obtainable by variation in such properties of the metered spent catalyst as color, electrical resistivity, density or the like. The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which:

Figure l is a schematic flow diagram of our improved carboncn-catalyst analyzer system;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the solids sampling and metering apparatus;

Figure 3 is a top view of the apparatus in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of the device in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 6a are detailed views of the catalyst nozzle and diverting shield;

Figures '7 and 8 are views of the sample wheel and sample wheel scraper;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the furnace and control included in the analyzer assembly of Figure 1; and

Figure 10 is a cross section taken along the line 1010 in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1, the spent catalyst sample taken from the catalyst standpipe it) issues from the catalyst delivery tube ill into the catalyst metering assembly 12. The metered sample of catalyst from 12 is introduced by conduit 13; into the furnace 14- wherein carbon on the catalyst is burned by an oxidizing gas. When oxygen is used it is metered into the furnace 14 from a supply via line 15 at a rate of 10 to 15 times that required to complete combustion of the carbon on the catalyst. A capillary-type flow meter 1'16 has been found particularly suitable for the metering of the oxygen. To insure constancy of the oxygen supply pressure at the inlet to the flow meter 16, We provide two pressure-reducing regulators in series. The usual type of cylinder pressure regulator is used for initial pressure reduction and the sec- 0nd pressure regulator 17 further reduces the oxygen pressure to that which gives the desired oxygen flow with the particular capillary-type flow meter is employed.

in a commercial installation the use of air as the oxidizing gas is preferred, since it avoids the encumbrances of cylinder oxygen. However, when air is used a higher temperature is required in the furnace 14 for an equivalent amount of carbon removal. For example, with a synthetic silica-alumina cracking catalyst having 0.87 percent carbon, a furnace temperature of liO01l50 P. will give a carbon-free catalyst, whereas with air as the oxidizing gas a temperature of 12504300 F. is required for comparable carbon removal. In using air, the oxygen metering set-up can be eliminated since the air comes in directly with the catalyst from the metering assembly housing 12. However, the oxygen injection points can also be left open to draw in air from the surrounding atmosphere by means of the aspirator set-up.

The oxidizing gas, whether air or oxygen, and the catalyst flow concurrently down through the furnace 14. It has been found that installing the furnace tube 14 at an angle of about 30 with the horizontal is conducive to The regenerated catalyst from the outlet 19 of the fur-- nace 14 is collected in a receiver 20 attached by a coupling 21 for rapid disengagement. A gate valve 22 is:

provided between the receiver 20 and the furnace 14 to permit operation while the receiver 20 is being emptied.

The eflluent combustion gas from the furnace 14 flows successively via line 23 through a water trap 24, a drier tube 25, and a Hopcalite tube 26 before entering the CO2 meter and recorder 27. Any CO in the combustion gas should be converted to CO2 before introduction into the meter 27, and the Hopcalite tube 26 is provided for this purpose. This insures measurement of all the catalyst carbon burned therefrom in the furnace 14 by the oxidizing gas. A thermal conductivity type meter 27 can be used for measuring the CO2 content of the combustion gas. To insure dependable performance of this type of CO2 meter, the combustion gas should be moisture free and water trap 24 and drier tube 25 are provided for this purpose.

The gases issuing from the CO converter tube 26 enter the measuring cell 27m of the CO2 meter 27 where the CO2 content is measured with reference to a standard gas in cell 271'. This may be the gases under test from which CO2 has been removed by means of adsorber 27:: containing an adsorbent such as soda lime. The CO2- free stream passes from the adsorber 27a and enters the reference cell 27r. Alternatively, the reference cell 271' may contain a sealed quantity of an appropriate reference gas which may be of background composition, i. e. a sample of combustion gas minus CO2, or pure air. In that event the adsorber 27a is omitted and the combustion gases pass directly from cell 27m to the rotameter 28. Such a sealed reference gas is preferred commercially since it avoids the necessity for renewing the adsorbent in adsorber 27a.

On leaving the CO2 meter 27, the gases pass through the rotameter 28 into a vacuum source means which provides the necessary constant vacuum to draw the gas through the system. This vacuum source may be a pump or blower, or airor water-operated aspirator, or the like. In the drawing it comprises an aspirator 29 operated with air from an airsupply chamber 30, the pressure on which is controlled by means of a pressurereducing valve 31. The rate of operating air flow through the aspirator 29 is controlled by a needle valve or orifice 33. A second needle valve or orifice 32 is provided between the rotameter 2S and the inlet of the aspirator 29 to control the volume of oxidizing gases being drawn through the furnace 14.

The flow of the aspirated oxygen or air through the furnace 14 must be uniform to preclude variations in the partial pressure of the CO2 in the combustion gas. Variations in the partial pressure of CO2 resulting from sources other than the carbon on the catalyst would impair the validity of the CGz meter reading because it is a partial pressure measuring instrument.

Although ten to fifteen times the required volume of the oxidizing gas is metered to the inlet of furnace 14 when commercial oxygen is used, only about eight times the theoretical based on 2 percent carbon on the catalyst is actually drawn through the furnace 14. The excess oxygen difiuses into the surrounding air and minimizes the possibility of dilution of the furnace intake with air. Further, when air is the source of the oxidizing gas, and air is the reference gas in 271", dilution is not a problem. However, the use of air requires a higher furnace temperature for an equivalent amount of carbon burning per unit time. Such lower temperature operation is desirable in some instances where the regenerated catalyst is periodically returned to the unit because temperatures in excess of about 1l00 F.ll50 F. may impair the life and activity of some cracking catalysts. However, in commercial installations where the sample of catalyst analyzed is relatively small and discarded, higher temperatures above about 1100 F.l150 F. can be used with air as the oxidizing gas. In any event, the temperature of the furnace 14 is controlled at the desired level by temperature-control means 33 as will be described below.

Referring to Figures 2 to 8, inclusive, the sampling and metering assembly 12 includes a casing 34 from which the delivery tube 11 extends through the wall of the standpipe 10. Preferably, the tube 11 is horizontal or sloped downwardly.

The spent catalyst sample taken from the standpipe 10 issues from the catalyst delivery tube 11 onto the recessed periphery 35 of the catalyst metering wheel 36. The discharge end of the delivery tube 11 is provided with a nozzle 40 through which a rotating rod 41 extends over the length of the delivery tube 11. The rotating rod 41 has a tapered enlargement 42 which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the nozzle 40. The position of the rotating rod and tapered section with respect to the nozzle 4t) is adjusted as will be described below so that a flow rate of catalyst is maintained somewhat in excess of that required to fill the recessed periphery 35.

A catalyst diverting shield 43 is fixed about the nozzle 4t! and deflects the catalyst through a downward opening 44 onto the metering wheel 36. A drive shaft 45, which is axially aligned with rod 41 and may be integral therewith, extends through a packing nut 46 on the shield 43.

The excess catalyst is scraped from the wheel 36 by a leveling scraper 47 and a pair of side scrapers 37 mounted on opposite sides of the casing 12. The leveling scraper 47 has a plow portion 47a which rides on the periphery of the wheel 36. The deflected catalyst falls into the excess catalyst receiver 38 from which it may be returned periodically to the catalyst system. As the wheel 36 rotates, the measured quantity of catalyst sample in the peripheral channel 35 of the wheel 36 separates therefrom and falls through the chute 39 into the furnace 14.

The catalyst sample from the delivery tube 11 is dis charged through the adjustable annular orifice formed by nozzle 40 and the tapered section 42 of the rod 41. The rotating rod 41 precludes plugging of the discharge tube 11. We have found that performance is more reliable with a delivery tube 11 sloped downwardly, for

example at 30 with the horizontal.

Aeration of the catalyst by injecting steam or nitrogen or traces of ammonia gas through bleed 48 in the delivery tube 11 is desirable. In fact, some catalysts with poor flowing characteristics will not flow uniformly unless so aerated. The presence of ammonia in the housing 34 also minimizes sticking of the catalyst to the metering solids from the standpipe to the collection vessel 21}.

wheel 36. The ammonia gas can be injected from a liquid ammonia source either alone or together with nitrogen and/or steam. Another source of ammonia gas found operable is the use of a wick in a container of aquedesired, the temperature of the delivery tube 11 can be raised with an appropriate jacket heater (not shown) which improves the catalyst flow characteristics by preheating the catalyst.

The catalyst issues from the nozzle 40 continuously but at a variable flow rate. Such variability does not impair the performance of the catalyst sampling device provided that the flow rate is maintained above the minimum necessary to fill the recessed periphery 35 of the catalyst metering wheel 36. Any excess catalyst delivered by tube 11 onto the metering wheel 36 is deflected by leveling scraper 47 and side scrapers 37 into the excess catalyst receiver 38 from which it can be returned manually or automatically to the catalyst standpipe 1t or some other point in the catalyst system.

The metering Wheel 36 rotating at a selected rate, for example of about 22.5 revolutions per hour, carries the catalyst in the periphery 35 downward and discharges it into chute 39 leading into a sample collector or a furnace. The rate of rotation is dependent upon the dimensions of the recessed peripheral channel for any preselected catalyst flow rate. The wheel 36 illustrated may be about 4.5 inches in diameter with a channel 35 having a radius of about 0.125 inch. Other sizes and shapes of continuous peripheral channels 35 can be used, however.

With some types of solids there may be a tendency to stick in the channel 35 due to electrostatic forces. These forces tending to hold the catalyst particles together can be dissipated by providing a source of alpha particles Within the periphery 35 of the metering wheel 36 and such dissipation assists subsequent removal of the catalyst by gravity flow into chute 39. The channel 35 can for example be plated or treated with an alpha particle emitting substance such as radium or some isotope of radium. This ionizes the surrounding air which promotes dissipation of the electrostatic charges of the catalyst particles which might otherwise cause agglomeration and sticking thereof within the channel.

In a typical installation, the inclined delivery tube 11 comprises a section of standard stainless steel seamless tubing of about 0.270 inch I. D. provided with a nozzle orifice 40 threaded about the end thereof. The tube 11 is supported in the assembly by means of block 51 arranged between the frame members 52 and 53 which are in turn fixed to the casing 34. A rod 41 is aligned with respect to the axis of the tube 11 and the orifice in nozzle 40 by means of a thrust bearing 49 mounted on adjustable thrust plate 55 and a contact bearing 46 carried by the catalyst diverting shield 43.

The rotating rod 41 has a tapered section 42 about 0.5 inch long which flares gradually over its length from about 0.125 inch to about 0.150 inch diameter. The tapered section 42 extends within the orifice, which may be about 0.1407 inch in diameter, to provide an annular opening through which the solids are discharged from the delivery tube 11. Screws 54 contact the thrust plate 55 which adjustably carries the thrust bearing 49. A slide coupling 56 links the end of the drive shaft 65 with the motor 58 supported by the frame members 52 and 53, the motor 58 being adapted to rotate the rod 41 through shaft 45 at about 180 revolutions per hour.

The wheel 36 is fixed byhub 59 to the axle 60 which is journaled in opposite sides of the casing 34 in bearings 61 A motor 62 mounted on the side of the casing 34 drives the axle 60 directly at about 22.5 R. P. H. It should be understood, however, that for a given metering rate the speed of rotation of the metering wheel is a function of the dimensions of the recessed periphery.

A wheel scraper 63 is pivotally mounted near its upper end on shaft 66 and held in contact with the periphery 35 of the metering wheel 36 by tension spring 67. The scraper 63 comprises an elongated hollow cylinder with a wall segment removed so as to provide a scraping edge 64 which conforms to the peripheral channel 35 in the metering wheel 36 to dislodge the catalyst and direct it downwardly through the lower end 65 of the hollow scraper 63.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, oxygen from flow meter 16 is injected through a plurality of orifices 70 and also through a tube 71 discharging into the catalyst chute 39. The major proportion of oxygen is introduced through the plurality of orifices 70 whereas the central tube 71 carries only sufiicient oxygen to maintain an oxygen atmosphere within the catalyst inlet chute 39. If air is used as the oxidizing gas a simplified system can be pro vided by eliminating the flow meter 16 and drawing in air via '70 and 711 or simply through the open housing 34. It is also found advantageous to space chute 39 with respect to coupling 68 so that an 0.125 inch air space separates the chute peripherally from the coupling.

The furnace 14 comprises in one embodiment a fourfoot section of 0.5 inch seamless, stainless steel tube 72 wound: with abeaded nichrome wire heater means distributed over its full length. A first heater unit 73 of about 1000 watts covers the 36-inch central section of the furnace tube 72 whereas an inlet heater unit 74 of about 90 watts and an outlet heater unit 75 of about 60 watts covers the six-inch end sections 76 and 77. The entire unit or furnace 14 may be enclosed by a suitable heat insulation 83 as shown in the drawings.

Thermocouples 78, 79 and 80 are fixed to the outer furnace Wall at the center of each of the three heater sections '73, 74 and 75. An exploratory thermowell 81 is provided for exploring temperatures along the entire length of the furnace tube 72 below the heater coil 73. The end heaters 74 and 75 may be controlled manually by means of variable transformer 82 and the associated conductors; whereas the central heater 73 is controlled by a millivoltmeter on-oif type temperature controller 33. It is contemplated, however, that for most applications all the heaters can be sized and wound appropriately for direct operation in series from an volt A. C. source and controlled by controller 33.

The time required for the analyzer to respond to changes in carbon concentrations is dependent upon the catalyst residence time within the furnace, the catalyst transportation rate to the furnace, and the gas transportation rate to the CO2 meter. The over-all time lag can be kept at a minimum by operating with a high furnace temperature which is permissible in most commercial applications. Use of such high furnace temperatures accelerates the rate of combustion, thereby lowering the minimum catalyst residence time within the furnace and permitting the use of a furnace of smaller volume. In any event the system described enables an operator to obtain prompt indications of significant variations in the carbon coating of the catalyst and enables the operator to take corrective measures. Thus to reduce the carbon, the feed-to-catalyst ratio in the reactor is reduced and/or the flow of catalyst from the regenerator can be cut back. Hence, the objects of our invention have been attained and we have provided a novel system both for metering finely divided solids from a continuous flowing stream and a system for automatically and continuously analyzing catalyst for carbon deposits.

Although our invention has been described in terms of specific apparatus which is described in considerable detail, it should be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that our invention is not. limited thereto. Alternative embodiments and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the description herein, and accordingly it is contemplated that modifications in both the method and the apparatus of our invention can be made without departing from the spirit of the described invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises tube means for withdrawing continuously a representative stream of spent catalyst from a fluidized column thereof, a rotating disc means for metering the withdrawn stream, a chute for introducing by gravity the metered volume of catalyst from said disc into a heated inclined combustion chamber, means for passing an oxygen-containing gas into said combustion chamber whereby carbonaceous deposits on said spent catalyst are removed by oxidation to carbon oxides, vibrator means for agitating the catalyst adja cent the outlet of said combustion chamber, conduit means for separately withdrawing combustion gases and catalyst from said combustion chamber, and means for measuring the equivalent CO2 content of the combustion gases as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the metered catalyst.

2. An apparatus for continuous and automatic carbonon-catalyst analysis which comprises an inclined tube for withdrawing a stream of catalyst from a flowing column of catalyst, means for metering the withdrawn stream to recover a sample of pre-selected volume at a.

uniform rate, a heated inclined combustion chamber, conduit means for transferring metered catalyst into said chamber, conduit means for introducing an oxygencontaining gas into said combustion chamber, vibrator means fixed to the said combustion chamber adjacent the outlet thereof, conduit means for separately Withdrawing gasiform fluids and catalyst solids from said combustion chamber, and means for measuring the equivalent CO2 content of the said fluids as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the metered catalyst sample.

3. An apparatus for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises in combination a sample delivery tube communicating with a catalyst standpipe, a catalyst metering assembly into which said tube discharges, means in said assembly for segregating a metered quantity of catalyst, means for collecting the excess catalyst sample, an inclined regeneration furnace, a duct between said catalyst-metering assembly and the inlet of said furnace, conduit means for introducing oxidizing gas to said duct and thence aspirated into said furnace, means for heating said furnace, a vibrator fixed to the lower end of said furnace, temperature-control means for said heating means, an outlet duct from said furnace, a catalyst receiver, a detachable coupling between said outlet duct and said catalyst receiver, a gate valve in said duct between said furnace and said coupling, a gas-transfer line communicating with said furnace and a C02 recorder, and means on said gas-transfer line for removing water therefrom and for converting CO to CO2, and an aspirator means adapted to draw the gases into and from said furnace through said recorder means.

4. An apparatus for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises in combination a sample delivery tube communicating with a catalyst standpipe, means for aerating the catalyst in said tube, a catalyst metering assembly into which said tube discharges, means in said assembly for segregating a metered quantity of catalyst, an inclined regeneration furnace, a gravity flow duct between a lower part of said catalyst-metering assembly and an upper portion of said furnace, a vibrator fixed to the lower end of said furnace and adapted to agitate the catalyst flowing through said furnace, conduit means for introducing an oxidizing gas to said duct and thence into said furnace, electrical heating means for said furnace, temperature-control means for said heating means, a gravity outlet duct from said furnace, a gas transfer line communicating with the outlet end of said furnace, a C02 recorder means on said line, and an aspirator means adapted to draw gases into and from said furnace through said CO2 recorder means and said transfer line at a uniform rate.

5. The method for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises the steps of continuously withdrawing an increment of a fluidized column of spent catalyst, aerating the withdrawn catalyst with ammonia gas, segregating a selected uniform portion of the aerated catalyst, continuously transferring the segregated catalyst by gravity flow into a combustion zone, agitating the catalyst adjacent the outlet of said combusion zone, concurrently flowing an oxidizing gas through said combusion zone, separately withdrawing catalyst from a lower portion of said combusion zone, separately withdrawing combustion products frm the said lower portion of the combustion zone, and continuously analyzing tl e combusion products for carbon oxides as a measure of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit on the metered spent catalyst sample.

6. In the method of determining and measuring the proportion of carbonaceous deposits on spent cracking catalyst wherein the carbonaceous deposit is burned from the catalyst and measured as carbon dioxide, the improvement which comprises the steps of continuously withdrawing an increment of spent catalyst from a fluidized column thereof, continuously aerating the withdrawn sample by injecting ammonia gas, discharging the aerated catalyst sample into a metering zone, segregating a uniform stream of an aliquot portion of the catalyst sample in an atmosphere of ammonia gas, transferring the uniform segregated stream of catalyst by gravity flow into an inclined combustion zone, supplying an oxidizing gas to said combustion zone and flowing such gases concurrently through the combustion zone with the catalyst, continuously withdrawing gaseous combustion products and carbon-free catalyst separately from a lower portion of said combustion zone, and agitating the catalyst adjacent the outlet of said combustion zone to induce uniform gravity flow through said combustion zone, continuously determining the equivalent carbon dioxide content of said combustion gases as a measure of the quantity of carbon occurring on the continuously metered sample of spent catalyst.

7. An apparatus for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises means for withdrawing continuously a representative stream of spent catalyst from a fluidized column thereof, means for continuously metering the withdrawn stream to recover a segregated volume of catalyst at a uniform rate, means for introducing by gravity the metered volume of catalyst into a heated combustion chamber, mechanical means exterior of said combustion chamber for agitating the catalyst therein and thereby inducing flow of the catalyst downwardly through the combustion chamber, means for concurrently passing an oxygen-containing gas through said combustion chamber whereby carbonaceous deposits on said spent catalyst are removed, conduit means for separately withdrawing combustion gases and catalyst from said combustion chamber, a vacuum means for withdrawing gases from said chamber at a controlled rate, and means for measuring the equivalent CO2 content of the withdrawn combustion gases as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the metered catalyst.

8. An apparatus for continuous and automatic carbonon-catalyst analysis which comprises in combination means for withdrawing a stream of catalyst from a flowing column of catalyst, means for metering the stream to recover a catalyst sample at a uniform rate, means for introducing by gravity the metered catalyst sample into the top of a heated combustion chamber, vibrator means for agitating the catalyst to induce the flow of the catalyst downwardly through the said combustion chamber, means for passing an oxygen-containing gas concurrently through said combustion chamber whereby carbonaceous deposits on said spent catalyst are removed by, forming combustion gases containing oxides of carbon, means for separately withdrawing combustion gases and catalyst from said combustion chamber, means for drying the withdrawn combustion gases, means for converting any CO in said gases to CO2, and means for measuring the total CO2 content of the combustion gases as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the metered catalyst.

9. An apparatus for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises means for continuously withdrawing an increment of a fluidized column of spent catalyst, means for aerating the withdrawn catalyst with ammonia gas, means for segregating a uniform portion of the aerated catalyst, means for continuously transferring the segregated catalyst by gravity flow into a combustion chamber, mechanical means exterior of said combustion chamber for agitating the catalyst so as to induce downward flow of the catalyst through the combustion chamber, means for concurrently flowing an oxidizing gas through said combustion chamber, means for separately withdrawing catalyst from a lower portion of said combustion chamber, means for separately withdrawing combustion products from the said lower portion of the combustion chamber, and means for continuously analyzing the combustion products for carbon oxides as a measure of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit on the metered spent catalyst sample.

10. An apparatus for determining and measuring the proportion of carbonaceous deposits on spent cracking catalyst wherein a carbonaceous deposit is burned from the catalyst and measured as carbon dioxide, the improvement which comprises the combination of means for continuously withdrawing an increment of spent catalyst from a fluidized column thereof, means for continuously aerating the withdrawn sample by injecting ammonia gas, means for discharging the aerated catalyst sample into a metering means, means for segregating a uniform stream of the catalyst sample in an atmosphere of ammonia gas, means for transferring the uniform segregated stream of catalyst by gravity into an inclined combustion chamber, means for supplying an oxidizing gas to said combustion chamber and for flowing such gases concurrently through the combustion chamber with the catalyst, mechanical means exterior of said combustion chamber and adjacent the lower end thereof for agitating the catalyst therein thereby inducing the flow of catalyst from said chamber, means for continuously withdrawing gaseous combustion products and carbon-free catalyst separately from a lower portion of said combustion chamber, and means for continuously determining the equivalent carbon dioxide content of said combustion gases as a measure of the quantity of carbon occurring on the continuously metered sample of spent catalyst.

11. The method for continuous carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises the steps of withdrawing a representative stream of spent catalyst continuously from a fluidized column thereof, continuously metering the withdrawn stream to recover therefrom a metered volume of catalyst at a uniform rate, said metered volume of catalyst comprising a uniform portion of the total withdrawn catalyst stream, introducing by gravity the metered volume of catalyst into a heated combustion Zone, flowing the catalyst downwardly through the combustion zone in a thin bed exposing a large surface relative to its volume, agitating the flowing catalyst adjacent the outlet of said combustion zone, concurrently passing an oxygen-containing gas through said combustion zone over said extended surface whereby carbonaceous deposits on said spent catalyst are removed, withdrawing catalyst from said combustion Zone substantially free of combustion gases, withdrawing combustion gases separately from said combustion zone under reduced pressure and at a uniform rate, and measuring the equivalent CO2 content of the withdrawn combustion gases as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the stream of metered catalyst.

12. The method for continuous and automatic carbonon-catalyst analysis which comprises the steps of withdrawing a stream of catalyst from a downwardly flowing column of catalyst, metering the stream to recover a catalyst sample at a uniform rate, said catalyst sample representing an aliquot portion of the total stream of catalyst withdrawn from the column of catalyst, introducing by gravity the metered catalyst sample into the upper end of a heated combustion zone, flowing the catalyst downwardly and laterally through the combustion zone in a bed of shallow depth, agitating the lower end of said combustion zone, passing a metered stream of an oxygencontaining gas concurrently through said combustion zone above and in contact with said shallow bed of catalyst whereby carbonaceous deposits on said downwardly and laterally moving spent catalyst are removed by forming combustion gases containing oxides of carbon, withdrawing catalyst from said combustion zone at a uniform rate, separately withdrawing combustion gases from said combustion zone by applying a vacuum source to the outlet of said combustion zone, drying the withdrawn combustion gases, converting any CO in said gases to CO2, and measuring the total CO2 content of the combustion gases as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit removed from the metered catalyst.

13. A method for the continuous and automatic carbon-on-catalyst analysis which comprises laterally withdrawing a stream of catalyst from a downwardly flowing column of catalyst, metering the withdrawn stream to recover a catalyst sample of preselected volume at a uniform rate, transferring the metered catalyst sample into an inclined combustion zone, flowing the catalyst sample downwardly and laterally through said zone in a thin bed, electrically heating the combustion zone at a uniform temperature, introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said combustion zone and flowing said gas downwardly and laterally over said bed, agitating a low portion of said bed to induce flow of catalyst at a uniform rate from said combustion zone, separately withdrawing gasiform fluids including combustion gases from said combustion zone by applying a vacuum source to an outlet of said zone, and measuring the equivalent CO2 content of the said withdrawn fluids as an indication of the proportion of carbonaceous deposit initially carried by the metered catalyst sample.

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11. THE METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS CARBON-ON-CATALYST ANALYSIS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF WITHDRAWING A REPRESENTATIVE STREAM OF SPENT CATALYST CONTINUOUSLY FROM A FLUIDIZED COLUMN THEREOF, CONTINUOUSLY METERING THE WITHDRAWN STREAM TO RECOVER THEREFROM A METERED VOLUME OF CATALYST AT A UNIFORM RATE, SAID MATERED VOLUME OF CATALYST COMPRISING A UNIFORM PORTION OF THE TOTAL WITHDRAWN CATALYST STREAM, INTRODUCING BY GRAVITY THE METERED VOLUME OF CATALYST INTO A HEATED COMBUSTION ZONE, FLOWING THE CATALYST DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE COMBUSTION ZONE IN A THIN BED EXPOSING A LARGE SURFACE RELATIVE TO ITS VOLUME, AGITATING THE FLOWING CATALYST ADJACENT THE OUTLET OF SAID COMBUSTION ZONE, CONCURRENTLY PASSING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS THROUGH SAID COMBUSTION ZONE OVER SAID EXTENDED SURFACE WHEREBY CARBONACEOUS DEPOSITS ON SAID SPENT CATALYST ARE REMOVED, WITHDRAWING CATALYST FROM SAID COMBUSTION ZONE SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF COMBUSTION GASES, WITHDRAWING COMBUSTION GASES SEPARATLY FROM SAID COMBUSTION ZONE UNDER REDUCED PRESSURE AND AT A UNIFORM RATE, AND MEASURING THE EQUIVALENT CO2 CONTENT OF THE WITHDRAWN COMBUSTION GASES AS IN INDICATION OF THE PROPORTION OF CARBONACEOUS DEPOSIT REMOVED FROM THE STREAM OF METERED CATALYST. 